People smuggling gang leader who assisted wanted murderers jailed for 10 years

The covert investigation – codenamed Operation Symbolry – has now dismantled the London-based crime group operated by Hossain, who used a network of lorry drivers to move people in both directions across the Channel.

These included a number of fugitives who were seeking to leave the UK as they were wanted for serious crimes such as child abuse and murder.

Hossain co-ordinated the movements of drivers and arranged for taxis to drop off migrants at their pick-up locations.

Following his arrest a ledger was found outlining details of the hundreds of men, women and children who had used his services. It also noted the amounts he had charged them.

NCA investigators believe he is likely to have made in excess of £1million from his criminal activity.

Hossain worked with Noor Ullah, 30, from East London, and surveillance teams witnessed them having numerous meetings and being in regular phone contact.

In the build up to one smuggling attempt in March 2021, where they planned to break into a lorry at South Mimms service station on the M25 to place people inside, there were almost 200 phone calls and messages between the pair.

NCA investigators moved in to arrest them in May 2021 in an operation which also saw the discovery of a safe house in Bethnal Green, East London, which was used to accommodate people being smuggled.

The property had been converted to accommodate at least 19 people, with bunk beds filling every room.

Eight men who were in the UK illegally were found staying there at the time – they were handed to the immigration authorities.

Following his arrest Hossain admitted conspiring with Ullah to move people into and out of the UK between December 2018 and May 2021, but he continued to deny being head of the crime group.

This was rejected by the judge at a subsequent court hearing, who described his story as a “tissue of lies” and told him that “you have lied time and time again. Dishonesty, greed and wickedness have led you to where you are today.”

NCA senior investigating officer Chris Hill said: “Our investigation has successfully dismantled this people smuggling network from top to bottom, including the organisers, middle-men and the lorry drivers being used.

“We believe they smuggled hundreds of people into and out of the UK, including fugitives wanted for murder and child abuse offences.

“People smugglers don’t care about safety or border security – they just see people as a commodity to be profited from. This can have fatal consequences, which is why tackling it is such a priority for the NCA.”

Operation Symbolry has already seen seven people, including five lorry drivers, convicted of people smuggling offences. The drivers were convicted after their trucks were intercepted by the NCA and migrants were found.

Hossain’s right-hand man Noor Ullah initially denied the charges against him, but on the first day of his trial he pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle people out of the UK between September 2020 and May 2021. He was sentenced to two years five months.